James “Larry” DeLucas was a member of the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia for STS-50 (June 25-July 9, 1992), the United States Microgravity Laboratory-1 (USML-1) Spacelab mission. Over a two-week period, the crew conducted a wide variety of experiments relating to materials processing and fluid physics. At mission conclusion, DeLucas had traveled over 5.7 million miles in 221 Earth orbits, and had logged over 331 hours in space.

On the Lanes with Larry DeLucas

Credit USBC Communications

DeLucas, a 63-year-old right-hander, had a similar feeling the first time he walked down Center Aisle at the Open Championships, and that’s what has kept him coming back.

“The first time I came to the Open, I could not believe it,” said DeLucas, who picked up the sport about 15 years ago after his son, Robert, started bowling collegiately at Vanderbilt University. “I’m not that great of a bowler, but when we walked out and the music was playing, it was a neat feeling, and that’s why I keep coming back. It’s just a lot of fun.”